Against the backdrop of the June 25-29, 2019 U.S.-backed Bahrain "Peace to Prosperity" economic workshop discussing the economic aspect of the Trump administration's "Deal of the Century," senior Syrian journalist Fuad Al-Sharabji wrote in his column for the Syrian establishment daily Tishreen comparing U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner to Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Shylock's contract specified that if he is not repaid in time, borrowers must make good the debt by relinquishing a pound of their flesh.
Al-Sharabji wrote that Jared-Shylock is promoting a political deal of "money in exchange for the flesh of Palestine," which he says will lead to the Palestinian refugees receiving citizenship in the countries where they reside in exchange for payment, and the implementation of Israeli sovereignty on any area Israel desires. He went on to castigate the Arab heads of state who, he said, are serving the agenda of this "Zionist-Shylockism."
Jared Kushner speaks at the Peace to Prosperity economic workshop in Bahrain (Source: Arabic.sputniknews.com, June 26, 2019)
The following are translated excerpts from Al-Sharabji's column:
"When money in the hands of the 'loan shark' becomes a means to control the needy, this money becomes a weapon for subjugation and enslavement. [Merchant of Venice character] Shylock demanded some of the flesh of the borrower in exchange for the money he loaned him!
"Jared Kushner, executor of the 'Deal of the Century,' attended [the Bahrain workshop] not just as an Orthodox Jew, but also as the son of Charles Kushner, real estate agent... who experienced a business setback – which has increased his lust for any piece of another's flesh. Jared's father Charles-Shylock fell from grace early in the 21st century, after pleading guilty to 18 counts of financial crimes, including fraud, bribing politicians, and interfering in federal elections, and spent two years in jail. According to the British Daily Express, Charles-Shylock's attorney, public relations consultant and financial fraud expert Howard Rubenstein advised him to take action to improve his image and re-enter the business community. He introduced him to [Donald] Trump, who was then merely a real estate agent. In accordance with fraud expert Rubenstein's recommendation, Charles pushed his son Jared into the Trump family, after purchasing a small newspaper for him so that he would be worthy [of marrying] Ivanka. The matter was arranged and presented as though Ivanka and Jared had fallen in love and married, after Ivanka converted to Judaism. Jared began to ascend the [business] ladder as per the plans of his father and fraud expert Rubenstein.
"In adherence to the Shylock mentality when it comes to the use of money, today Jared brings us the 'Deal of the Century,' based on the principle of 'Peace in Exchange for Prosperity.' The true significance of this policy is 'money in exchange for the flesh of Palestine.' Is there any more explicit Shylockian conduct?
"Jared son of Shylock and husband of Ivanka, for whom [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is a shining example, arrived in the region with a Shylockian knife, not just to strip the skin from the Palestinian issue. He also brings with him an interest-bearing deal under which every refugee will receive citizenship in his place of refuge in exchange for money, and under which the sovereignty of 'Israel' may be applied to any territory in which it has something to gain – especially after Jared announced that his plan is based on abolishing the borders. This will lead to the disappearance of the nation states in the region and will harm all of them by transforming them into entities without borders.
After all this, what should we call Arab leaders who serve this Shylockian-Zionist agenda?"[1]
[1] Tishreen (Syria), July 1, 2019.
